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    Wisconsin Lawyer
    November 01, 2002

    Legislative Watch: What is the Legal Services Corporation?

    The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a private, nonprofit corporation established by Congress in 1974 with bipartisan sponsorship and the support of the Nixon administration. Its mission is to seek to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing civil legal assistance to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it.

    Patricia Ballman

    Wisconsin Lawyer
    Vol. 75, No. 11, November 2002

    What is the Legal Services Corporation?

    The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a private, nonprofit corporation established by Congress in 1974 with bipartisan sponsorship and the support of the Nixon administration. Its mission is to seek to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing civil legal assistance to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it.

    The LSC is headed by an 11-member Board of Directors appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. By law, the board is bipartisan: no more than six members may be of the same political party. The LSC does not provide legal services directly. Rather, it provides grants to independent local programs. In 2002, the LSC will fund 179 local programs. Together they serve every county and congressional district in the nation, as well as the U.S. territories. Special service areas also address the distinctive needs of Native Americans and migrant farm workers.

    The legal services delivery system is based on several principles: local priorities, national accountability, and a strong public-private partnership. Local programs are independent entities, governed by boards of directors drawn from the local bar and client community. All legal services programs must comply with laws enacted by Congress and the implementing regulations promulgated by the LSC.


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